Non-Catholics Find Home at NDA
April 15, 2014
Notre Dame Academy is the only Catholic high school in Green Bay. It was established in 1990 after combining three Green Bay Catholic high schools, Saint Joseph’s Academy, Abbot Pennings High School, Our Lady of Premontre High School.
Surprising to some, not all students and staff at NDA are Catholic.
Seniors Luke Davison and Joe Hardy classify themselves as Lutherans. They both said they came to Notre Dame for the same reasons– athletics and a good education. Davison played hockey while Hardy participated in football and track.
Even though they do not follow the same beliefs as Catholics, they said they both enjoy praying before athletic games and events.
“Lutherans don’t pray to saints, unlike Catholics. We celebrate Lent by giving up something, but we can eat meat on Fridays,” Davison said.
Davison said that even though he is not Catholic, he has taken part in the Sacrament of reconciliation and enjoyed it. Hardy, however, disagrees.
“As Lutherans, we do not believe in reconciliation. If you want your sins to be forgiven, you should talk it over with God, not through a priest,” Hardy added.
Sophomore Max Roitstein is Jewish. The deciding factor in his enrollment at Notre Dame was both of his parents and the overall learning environment.
“Prayer is what separates NDA from public schools. Though I do not participate, I find it to be a fundamental part of our school,” Roitstein stated.
Freshman Diego Mendoza and seniors Keri Salscheider and Greg Davis said they recognize themselves as non denominational and more spiritual or free thinkers.
Salscheider and Davis were both raised in Catholic environments, but as they grew up they realized they were not connecting with the Catholic beliefs.
“I was Catholic when I first came to Notre Dame, and then I realized I was believing what my parents taught me too. I didn’t connect with it; however, I am not anti-Christian,” Salscheider said.
Similar to Davison and Hardy, Davis partakes in prayers everyday and before sporting events.
Mendoza says he does not pray in the same way Catholics do, but doesn’t mind it and will not complain.
Senior Victoria Koch said she was originally going to attend Fox Valley Lutheran which has an exceptional art program, but due to money and transportation her family decided Notre Dame was the better option and still had the programs she wanted.
She, too, is not Catholic. “I think of myself as an agnostic, but lately I have found myself being drawn towards the belief of the crow or Absaalooke Indians whose belief is heavily involved in nature. I’ve always felt nature has an immense power on humans so as a concept crow beliefs is more tailored for me,” Koch said.
She said she doesn’t mind that as Tritons, we begin all things in prayer.
“I used to participate in prayer to ‘fit in,’ but now I’ve found a comfort in not being anything and just being myself,” Koch shared. She stands quietly and lets those who do believe do what they want.
English teacher, Mrs. Carolyn Brown, was raised as a Southern Baptist, but now attends a non-denominational church. She originally came to NDA because there was an opening to teach, but her perception of being Catholic has changed since she first came here.
“I think it’s beautiful that we pray before everything. It shows who we are and where we come from,” Mrs. Brown said.
Math teacher Mr. Doug Guyette recognizes himself as a Christian. He believes prayer enables us to pause and reflect on our place in this world.
“Events like Mass, Common Prayer, and Reconciliation add tradition to the high school experience. They help mark the turning of the year. Even as a non-Catholic, I have felt welcome to participate in such services as suits my own faith,” he said.
Junior Brynnan Gray is currently studying Buddhism.
“I’m not comfortable calling myself a Buddhist yet, but hopefully in a few years I will be able to,” Gray shared.
She decided to come to NDA because her dad works here and she wanted to make a change in her life.
“I like going to Mass, but parts of the Mass will go right over my head. Other parts are very beautiful,” Gray added, “At times I would rather take that time to meditate, but this exposure to a different faith is making me a more well-rounded person as a whole.”
Konop Vending, which provides the food in the cafeteria, respects the Catholic values by not selling meat on Fridays during Lent. This bothers Roitstein and Gray; however, they both understand that since Notre Dame is Catholic, they must respect the school’s beliefs. Roitstein suggests that there should be other options as well.
Some non-Catholic students say that no meat on Fridays does not really affect them because they usually bring their own lunch to school.
While some students believe non-Catholics should not have to go to Mass or Common Prayer, others see it as part of the NDA experience
“We should be able to choose our own path, but I understand because it’s a Catholic school. I value their opinion, but I don’t want it shoved down my throat,” Salscheider said.
Keith Basar • May 16, 2014 at 3:28 pm
I was blessed to teach social studies (and a year of religion classes) at Notre Dame from 1990 to 1994–and am not Catholic. For the most part I was warmly received by faculty, administration and students. As the old zen parable states, “the finger that points to the moon is not the moon.” I think students then and now simply desire to feel ever more connected to their Source–no matter it’s label. I always felt that was my mission as teacher.
Bert Bengtson • Apr 23, 2014 at 9:22 pm
While I do agree with this article, that NDA is accepting of other religions, I dislike how it never mentions atheists, like myself. I have heard this same argument many times throughout my high school career and it always seems like the only examples used for “other religions” are ones that are extremely close to Catholicism, like Protestantism and Judaism, while atheists are pushed into the corner and never mentioned. Let me just say , from experience, that people treat total non believers much differently than they treat believers or people who are resting in the middle. By not having Nonbelievers mentioned in this article I feel like a key part of it is missing. The article does not put the point across that NDA is accepting to all religions, but instead says that NDA is accepting to all religions as long as you believe in something or that there might be something. Now, Colleen I know this probably was not intended, as I said before I have seen this same argument a multitude of times and Atheism has never been mentioned, I just wanted to bring this problem into the light. So that people could become aware of it.
Bert
Joel Cherney • May 1, 2014 at 11:23 pm
Notre Dame is as accepting as they need to be as the school is a private organization. That being said, I think your point needs to see more light. It’s not just that Atheism is hushed up but some things taught to students about it are just plain wrong. The articles shown in classes are basically atheism shaming and are brought up simply to try and show Atheism in a bad light. What scares me more than the shaming going on for some religions (and lack of in the case of Atheism) is that some are taught completely wrong. Agnosticism was never taught correctly at Notre Dame during the four years I attended. Ask the majority of students at Notre Dame what Agnosticism is and the majority will give you the wrong answer, including those who identify themselves as Agnostic!